Forum Replies Created

Island Gator, I agree that there needs ”to be some stringent rules around the transfer portal,” but I also see the unfairness of a Head Coach leaving university ‘X’, and then coaching another team in just a matter of months, or even days. The college players today have to be treated similarly, in my opinion. However, the players’ ability to up and leave a school after months, even years, of recruiting them is the quandary now in college football recruiting.

Many kids today are not like most born and raised Gators of yesterday, Gators for life! And the inclination of home state loyalty/pride has come and gone, unfortunately. Now it’s schools like Clemson showing off their ”football only complex” to born and raised Floridian players, who then sign with schools like Clemson (out of state). Today’s unloyalty factor amongst high school kids to their homestate is the reason the ”transfer portal” will become yet another hurdle for college coaches to jump over in the dog eat dog world of college football recruiting.

I am perplexed though when I see some in Gator Nation questioning a Head Coach like Dan Mullen, who has 10 years of Head Coaching experience, 2 National Championships as an O.C., and coached a Q.B. to a Heisman trophy. Unfortunately, many of those Gator fans take the actions of kids that should still be in high school, like a Steele and/or a Jaylon Jones, and other recruits that haven’t even started their junior year in high school, as an indictment against Coach Mullen’s abilitly to lead a program like Florida back to greatness.

Well, I am glad I got some entries on this topic. And I appreciate all those who dropped some of their thoughts and opinions. I am well past the loss in the NCAA Tourney.
I did have some concerns with Mike White having the same problems in the paint this season, as he had last season (2017-’18). But Stokes and Bassett could and should get some solid playing time next year, and increase their production. While K.J. was a real pleasant surprise this past season, and hopefully we’ll get more from him in the future.
The Gak situation, well, time will tell us all next season. I do wish Gak the very best, but he looked like he has played in chronic pain since he’s been a Gator. I do hope he has a healthy and more productive 2019-’20 basketball season.
Lastly, I think Nembhard comes back for his sophomore year; his foot work needs some more ”college experience,” in my opinion. I do see more offensive production out of the 2019-’20 Men’s Gator Basketball Team. Perhaps a run to the NCAA Tourney again, and hopefully farther than the last 2 NCAA Tourney runs: a round of 32 loss is getting old.
Sweet 16 or more! Go Gators!

Since you asked Graham, no, I don’t know enough about the ”portal” or ”the flex capacitor” either. Not well enough to write about it or discuss it. But here’s what I do know. I’ve listened to ”F-you” tweeting Dooley, and I’ve listen to the always honorable on-air, Steve Russell, since way back when he was spinning vinyl. And I know that the ”grad transfer” thing for Mike White was temporary, or ”until he could get his guys in here.” And it worked rather well for Mike White’s 1st 2 years, see Koulechov, and Barry before him. But Coach White is on year 4 just being done, and heading into year 5.
That says it all about Coach White’s present ability to recruit quality big men to the very same university that Billy ‘D’ won 2 N.C.’s and went to 4 Final Fours at. That, in of itself, says ”mucho” to little ole’ me! And for those who say, ”Billy ‘D’ just caught lightning in a bottle , so you can’t expect that every year.” Well, to you all I say, ”I am NOT asking for that EVERY year, or even every 5 years, I am ONLY ASKING for U.F. Men’s Basketball to go RECRUIT BIG MEN worthy of a school that boasts about being a ”TOP 10 ATHLETIC PROGRAM.”
And I will leave you same people with this question to ponder. ‘WHAT IF’ the Univ. of North Carolina, or say the Alabama Football program, way back when they first started their ”greatness” said, ”We cannot EXPECT this greatness every year, or every other year even. We just ‘caught lightning in a bottle,’ so ease up on your GREAT EXPECTATIONS.”?!?!?!?
I know! They’d sound a lot like some Florida fans in the 21st century. That’s what would’ve happen! Go Gators!

Again, I appreciate your input, Joe. I hope to see this forum light up with entries during the ”dog days of summer,” too. And I do think as of today, that long term, Head Coach Mike White is the right guy and will succeed here. But none of us are promised tomorrow, or ”next season,” and I love my Florida Gators (as much as some New Yorkers love their ”Yankees”). It’s all I’ve known for 50 years of life, and it’s all I have for serious sports intake. I can watch drag racing, the Daytona 500 & Talladega, Pro Basketball playoffs ONLY (esp. since M.J., Bird, and Magic are gone), and the NFL, etc… but my Gators in Football and Men’s Basketball are ”IT!”
And now my last image for U.F. basketball for ANOTHER YEAR is a ”beat down by Michigan,” …again! Ugh! But I’m glad to see them clear up ”3 scholarships” for some ”other players.” Now whether it’s a ”grad-transfer” like Koulechov, or another Barry (both successes), I just don’t know if that will work again. They did work short term, but I would like to see some long term big man development at U.F.
And if we’re honest, it isn’t happening (bigs’ development). I don’t know why a person can’t ”learn to catch a round ball.” (Albeit, I played basketball and wide receiver from little-league through high school, so…) But just see K. Hayes, God bless him and his future, and his great effort but… dang! And that falls onto the coaches, in my opinion. Period! And ‘IF’ the bigs that are there now, with all their potential (see Bassett, Stokes, etc…) still look they did this season, NEXT SEASON, then oh man, I hope that does NOT happen. Otherwise, Mike White will really be hearing ”the noise in the system,” like Coach Zook once famously said here in Hogtown.
Thanks again, ”cool” Joe!

Joe, thanks for the input and commenting here. I get it. But it NEVER hurts to put some fire to it (White) and test the mettle. In fact, it’s Scriptural. And the best basketball player I’ve EVER watched with my own eyes was EVEN BETTER under pressure, Michael ”Air” Jordan. Mike White is not a Billy ‘D’ and I get it. But he better get BETTER under pressure or the BRASS at U.F won’t take it much longer. Just check out Mike White’s record at U.F. against Top 10 opponents, it ain’t good! And last time I checked, the UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA boasts about ”being a Top 10 athletic program.” Take care, ”cool” Joe!

Thanks for the kind words, Mtn2top. I really enjoy your posts throughout Football and Basketball seasons, as well. As they are the only 2 sports I know well enough (having played them both myself) that I can comment on here regularly. And ”this is the hand we’re dealt” pertaining to Gator Basketball… I just hope we got ”pocket Aces” next season! LOL!
Go Gators!

Hey 6, I’ll bite. I think having Miami, Auburn, LSU, and those hated Dawgs on U.F.’s 2019 schedule makes me feel like I’m in high school again… way back in 1985! Where’s a young Michael Jackson, and a healthy Michael J. Fox for that matter? And I would warn Prince and Gainesville born, Tom Petty, about the drug Fentanyl, too. If only!!!

On that note, ”IF ONLY” Florida can beat those teams above, then it will be a very special year for our beloved Florida Gators. I just don’t know the mindset of the young O-line. And oh, those Vols and their young, athletic Q.B. got a whole lot better at the end of last year. So…
GO Gators!

It could be an historic day for Florida Football. So if the Gators pull off the upset of the Wolverines, I believe it will be because Florida’s ‘O’ ran the ball well, and the Gator ‘D’ held their own on the line of scrimmage. The Gator ‘D’ must defend the passing game of Michigan MUCH BETTER than the UGA game.
That is how I see this bowl game. A rematch of FLA/UGA (in playing style that is). Florida must not let Patterson get into a groove in the passing game. Otherwise it will be ugly, like U.G.A.! Gators win a close one, no score prediction.
Bonus beats: I remember way back in the day, ”Sharky’s Machine” (in the ATL) was one the big screen, and U.F. got blasted in Atlanta. Now the game is DIFFERENT! No one in the media is mentioning this GLARRING TRUTH, THE PEACH BOWL IS INDOORS NOW!
So, Go Gators! CHOMP-CHOMP!

Those are 2 interesting questions which I think many of us Gator fans have pondered, SoCal.
And I will start with the legendary H.B.C., Coach Steve Spurrier. He’d have at least one more N.C. for the Gator Nation, in my opinion. And the great Gator Q.B. Rex Grossman got robbed of a Heisman Trophy in Coach Spurrier’s last year here in Hogtown.
Rex Grossman was one of ”Top 5” best Q.B.s in my 50 years of Gator life, even though he may not have the ”hardware” of a Danny Wonderful or a Tim Tebow.
And the irony about Coach Mullen in your scenario is that ‘IF’ Coach Spurrier had stayed (as you imagined), then Coach Urban Meyer would’ve NEVER been a Gator H.C. in ’05. Thusly, present Head Football Coach Dan Mullen wouldn’t even be here now. Things that make you go hmmm.
Go Gators!

Thanks for your input, KentuckyGator, all valid and thought provoking. It must’ve been rough up there after U.K. beat us (Florida) for the 1st time in decades (in football). But thanks for your thoughts.

Correction: I spelled Moten’s 1st name incorrectly, it’s Andrew. The ”M & M boys” Maxwell & Moten. And I do call Steve’s show quite often, and he plays the ”Devil’s Advocate” on your point, (ironically, since that movie, ”The Devil’s Advocate,” was created/based on a Gainesville, FL. attorney. And I will always love the beautiful, yea I gotta’ crush on her, Charlize Theron’s character saying in the movie, “I want to back to Gainesville!” But Steve Russell often tells me, ”it’s based on perceptions,” whatever that means. But I do love his show! Go Gators!

Well said, Mtn2top, and I agree with you on the patience part for Coach White this season. He’s had 3 ”20 or more win seasons” at U.F. so far. But, unfortunately, I don’t see that happening again this season (20 or more W’s).
I do, however, wonder how this coaching staff’s coaching is not an important part of the Gators displaying a lack of basic skill at times this season’s on his U.F. Basketball team, and way too much it shows up. An example: they’re too soft on boxing out, and their switch ‘D’ often sets up too slowly and/or leaves them completely ”mismatched,” and the opposing teams are taking advantage of it. I do, however, believe ”next season” will be the ”barometer,” or the ”make or break” for his chances of redeeming the Gators from this year’s losing season. Because, sadly, I think this Gator basketball team will end up with a losing record, more losses than wins in their overall record and their SEC record.
I do hope I’m wrong, and thanks for contributing, Mtn2top. Go Gators!

”The truth is drawn and driven in the right direction by other truths.” -C.H. Spurgeon.
So thanks to all who have contributed so far. And while I’m rooting for Florida Basketball and Coach White, ”the truth” is big man, Gak, has been hurt since he came to the Univ. of Florida. And Stokes should be jumping rope everyday in order to get lighter phsyically and quicker on his feet in order to help this team. As I commented here in the past, Stokes could be as effective (or more so) than the great Dametri Hill, ”Da Meat Hook,” who during the Gators’ 1st Final Four season in ’94, Hill averaged around 14 points a game and grabbed around 6 rebounds a game. But here in 2019, I think Dontay Bassett is the one who needs to play more effectively in the paint. As I truly believe Dontay Bassett hasn’t even come close to his upside yet.

I have to believe Coach Mike White & staff saw this coming, he had to have seen this coming! Because other than Keith Stone’s untimely injury, these coaches had to know where they were with regards to Florida’s big men. The coaches knew they’d get non-stop effort from Hayes, but they also should’ve known there wouldn’t be a lot of help in the paint to assist Hayes on a consistent basis. Albeit, Hayes had quite possibly his best overall game against T.C.U. in Texas, the Gators still lost. K.J. has been a bright star so far, beaming a bright hope for the future. But not shinning so brightly that were talking about seedings in the 2019 NCAA Tourney.

”The truth” is that Florida is missing pieces, and like any coaching staff, and much like a ”sales staff,” they have to ”forecast and predict” where their ”sales” (their help) will come from. And I don’t see Mike White’s long term plan with regards to Florida’s big men as of today on Jan. 28th, 2019. Whether or not Mike White will publicly acknowledge that he took some missteps with recruiting big men to Florida (to date), these deficiencies glaringly show in games that are close. And Saturday’s game against T.C.U. (like 2 others in the SEC schedule, so far) have been close. And ultimately, Florida lost them all (Carolina and U.T., too). But still, ‘IF’ these Gators can win the next four games, then ”BAM” Coach Mike White’s a basketball genius! GO GATORS!

Hopefully, you’re right mtn2top about ”squeaking into the NCAA’s.” And while I know we’re told to ”enjoy the journey,” this journey is presently just so up and down. In fact, I think I may go ride the roller coaster ”Montu” at Busch Gardens in Tampa. That would probably be a smoother ride than this one with U.F. Basketball. But I sincerely hope this team can get more from the U.F. big men. The freshman players (Locke & Nembhrad) do give us Gator fans hope. But the lack of big men play is something I cannot come to grips with. Chase Johnson and his concussions, I give Coach Mike White a pass on that one. But Gak has appeared to have been injured since he came to Hogtown. In fact, I haven’t seen him run up and down the court without looking like he was in pain since he’s been at U.F.
And the lack of development of Hayes, Stone, Bassett (well, Bassett is kinda’ my hope for a jewel in the rough), and Stokes is troubling. I know U.F. made the quarter finals, the equivalent of the ”Final Four” in the NIT’s in Mike White’s 1st year at U.F. (I think it was his 1st year). But I don’t even see that even happening as of mid-January 2019. And it is only ”the 1/2 way point,” so I will not give up on these Gators. But the in the paint problem has to get resolved (as best as the coaches can, with what they have now).
Lastly, I just hope U.F. Coach Mike White understands that you cannot consistently win in the SEC with a ”live by 3, die by the 3” mindset.
Go Gators!